Okay, so after some consensus I've decided to not put the Adrian POV in this story because this is Dimitri's story, it belongs to him and shouldn't be shared.
However, I will be writing a separate story for Adrian for Frostbite so be sure to check it out if you want more Adrian when I get around to it. What I wrote in Chapter 9 will be the first chapter so you can skip over it if you already read it.
Finally, thanks so much for all the reviews, you guys are really great.
Click that green button if you want me to update tomorrow.
Thanks – Val
Chapter 10
I met Tasha later that day to see her. She was looking casual, laid back with jeans and t-shirt, but even with the scar and everything else working against her, she still looked pretty darn good.
"Hey Dimka," she called.
"How are you this morning?" I asked.
"I'm great," she answered. "How about you? Are you going to manage to sneak away today?"
I had read the assignment for today and saw that the answer to that was no. I hesitated, afraid of her reaction.
"Please tell me you have the day off," begged Tasha.
"I have to work all day," I answered.
She grumbled, "Can't you call in sick?"
"No," I answered. "I can't. Not that sort of job," I laughed. "Though I don't imagine I could possibly do anything else."
"You suck, well, I guess I'll just have to be doing some illegal things with Christian," she answered.
"What illegal things?" I asked warily.
"Can't really tell a Guardian, can I?" she teased.
"I promise not to tell," I answered.
"Fine, you beat it out of me, I'll just teaching Christian some defense spells," she answered.
"Tasha," I hesitated, I didn't like her doing this sort of thing, "Be careful. You could get in a lot of shit for that. Even I won't be able to protect you," I warned.
"Dimka," she insisted. "For one, yes you will. And more importantly, it doesn't make any sense, why wouldn't Moroi use their magic to defend themselves like in the old days, it's so stupid. Moroi numbers are dwindling and the Queen still hasn't taken any initiative. I'm not going to obey some stupid rule which could result in my death or Christian's in the future."
"Well, I'm not disagreeing with the use. Moroi should use magic to defend themselves, I just don't want someone I care a lot about to go to prison for it though," I answered.
"So you care about me a lot, huh?" she teased.
"Of course," I answered. "You're a great friend of mine."
"And he shoots me down once more," Tasha teased back.
"I didn't mean it like that," I explained.
"It's alright," she answered. "You'll change your mind," she insisted and smiled showing her fangs.
"Well I really have to go," I explained. "I'll be on watch with some of the other Guardians."
"Okay," she answered, "Have fun I guess."
"Thanks," I answered and then she kissed me on the lips goodbye.
I spent the better part of the day just guarding the posts outside the lodge which was incredibly boring for the most part and freezing since we were on a mountain full of snow. Finally though, a guardian came to speak to me.
"Hey Dimitri" called John, a Guardian now who had attended the Academy in Siberia with me. "How are you it's been a while?"
"I've been good, how about you?" I asked.
"Good, good," he answered, "So I heard you're assigned to the Montana Academy."
"Yup," I answered.
"I heard about Lord Zeklos too, I'm sorry for your loss," he continued.
"Thank you, it was a difficult time," I answered.
"So how are things with the Academy?" he changed the subject sensing my tension.
"They're okay, not as bad as I had thought," I answered, well at least not as boring.
"I heard you have to mentor Guardian Hathaway's kid and that she's a nightmare," John added.
"Oh, Rosemarie," I answered, "She isn't really a nightmare. She actually sort of keeps it interesting. And truth be told I think I've straightened her out some, she hasn't done anything reproachable lately," I corrected.
"Huh," he answered.
"What?" I asked since the way he said it made it seem like he disagreed.
"Oh nothing," he continued. "Just high school rumors, I probably shouldn't even have taken it into consideration."
Now I really wanted to know, "What's that supposed to mean? What did you hear?"
"Nothing really," began John. "Just that she and Adrian Ivashkov –you know, the Queen's nephew, were hanging out last night getting drunk. The whole lodge was buzzing about it since you know Queen Tatiana probably doesn't want her only nephew within a few feet of your student."
I gritted my teeth, "Yes, because I'm sure Rose is the bad influence," I said bitterly sarcastic. My hands turned into fists and I could already feel adrenaline pulsing through me. What the hell was Rose doing with Adrian Ivashkov? That kid had nothing but trouble written all over him. I could deal with Rose dating a nice, respectable Dhampir her age who I knew wouldn't try to take advantage of her. Adrian Ivashkov –a spoiled Moroi who just wanted to sleep with her –unacceptable.
"I'm sure it was probably just a rumor," answered John seeing the change in my visage. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get you all worked up."
"Yes well, I know of Adrian Ivashkov, he's notorious for partying and sleeping with a lot of girls. And he's a royal Moroi, which probably means he thinks he can have whatever he wants," I answered bitterly, trying to explain my rage.
"You're worried that Rose will hook up with him? How it'll make you look?" he asked.
"No." I answered; I could care less about that. "I'm concerned of an older royal Moroi taking advantage of a younger Dhampir girl," I answered, venom coming off every word. "He won't be getting near her again," I announced.
"Not to doubt your abilities because man, you have always been a beast, but how exactly do you plan on stopping that. Between you and me, we both know Moroi royal men –especially the Queen's nephew –can pretty much get away with murder."
"Maybe. But when I'm through with him, he won't want to get within ten feet of Rose," I answered and walked up and started to the lodge. I was going to kick Ivashkovs ass. I was going to push him against the wall and frighten him so much he won't ever want to take advantage of a Dhampir again.
"Where are you going?" called John as I was walking away.
"To take care of this," I called back, "Cover me."
I was walking to the Ivashkov wing, basically fuming and then knocked into Tasha.
"Dimka, what's wrong, you look like you want to murder someone?" she asked.
I did right now. "Nothing," I answered.
"Tell me," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me aside.
"Rose," I began, "She was with Adrian Ivashkov last night," I said the name with repulse. "Getting drunk," I added.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"A Guardian told me," I answered.
"Could be just a rumor," Tasha said. "What were you planning on doing? Castigating Rose?"
"No," I answered. "Just going to have a little man to man talk with Adrian."
"Are you crazy?" she asked with bewilderment. "You can't do that. You don't want to be on his bad side."
"Why?" I asked. "What the hell is he going to do?" There was a little voice of reason in me telling me I should probably listen to Tasha, but it was very easy to ignore when I pictured Adrian Ivashkov trying to get his dirty hands on Rose.
"He has a lot of power. He's the Queen's only nephew. It could have repercussions. Just cool down and then talk to Rose about it, she'll listen."
"I can't," I answered. "I have to take care of this now."
Tasha gave me a strange look then, like she was trying to figure something out. She was reading me.
She was about to start talking, but right then Janine Hathaway walked by, good I could tell her what Rose had been up to, "Guardian Belikov, there's been another Strigoi attack."
And just like that, all my concerns had to fade away… for now.
